Prominent Memphis Area Pastor Resigns

[Amanah]

It would be naïve to think that moral failure isn’t present in every Christian sect, it’s been well documented among the ranks of: Catholics, Charismatic’s, Pentecostals, Mormons. I personally knew the priest who molested my sister, and the Pentecostal youth leader who raped his own daughter.

Jeremiah 9:1 Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

2 Corinthians 10:4
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)

John 8
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

[Amanah]

My heart breaks and I cry as much for the offender as the one offended. There are some failures that cause us to fall in battle in such a way that we can never get back up, can never make the relationship right, will forever mourn and wail at the losses that our failures have caused.

There are somethings that we can never fix or make right, and don't you think Satan glories in the destruction of people who were/are precious to God?

[Amanah]

Steve Green Lyrics

See all the wounded
Hear all their desperate cries for help
Pleading for shelter and for peace
Our comrades are suffering
Come let us meet them at their need
Don't let a wounded soldier die

Chorus:
Come let us pour the oil
Come let us bind their hurt
Let's cover them with a blanket of His love
Come let us break the bread
Come let us give them rest
Let's minister to healing to them
Don't let another wounded soldier die

Obeying their orders
They fought on the front lines for our King
Capturing the enemy's stronghold
Weakened from battle
Satan crept in to steal their lives
Don't let a wounded soldier die

[Evang.Benincasa]

Originally Posted by Charnock

No wonder the world wants nothing to do with Christianity.

Yeah, because of the bitter ex-(place whatever denomination) people who for whatever reason came against (place whatever denomination).

My brother, see you in ten years, I pray that your ecclesiastical evolution doesn't turn round and bite you back. More pitiful, more merciful, Jesus said for our love for one another we will be known? Brother, every man's burden is the heaviest, because our own perception is our own reality. Your blanket statements are not truth, just like a bigot who says all black people are criminals, or all Sicilians have family members who are in the Mafia. While there may be some who fit those descriptions not all fit those descriptions.

Brother, you had a bad experience, and it shows, but it was your own experience, and not everyone had the same experiences as you.

You may find a group were you all have similar bad experiences, sit around lick each others wounds, and bash the group you came out from.

My Brother, there are bad people everywhere, in every group and religion.

Just don't become the thing you hate.

[chigayle]

Unfortunately, in an organization, the organization's manual is "the bible". Not, THE BIBLE. An organization is not worried about the man or the family. Only the organization. I grew up in the UPC and have seen so many of these same situations happen through the years to good good men. At the end of the day we are all "flesh". WORRY about the ones that have TB on the chopping block == you can bet there are skeletons they have.

REAL christians and especially REAL preachers will be like a doctor and flip into "rescue" mode. That is what the church is...a hospital for the wounded. But, the church and especially organizations loose that focus. Sad, but church politics reign supreme. The wounded ARE left to die.

Let us search out Jesus' heart. For REAL. Too much opinion, and not enough scriptural foundation.

When I asked a question what does Galatians 6:1 mean to you....answers were very carnal. One person said I am all for restoration IF.....there was no IF stated in Galatians 6:1. It was a directive....ye that are SPIRITUAL, restore. I guess that (SPIRITUAL) is the problem.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Yeah, because of the bitter ex-(place whatever denomination) people who for whatever reason came against (place whatever denomination).

My brother, see you in ten years, I pray that your ecclesiastical evolution doesn't turn round and bite you back. More pitiful, more merciful, Jesus said for our love for one another we will be known? Brother, every man's burden is the heaviest, because our own perception is our own reality. Your blanket statements are not truth, just like a bigot who says all black people are criminals, or all Sicilians have family members who are in the Mafia. While there may be some who fit those descriptions not all fit those descriptions.

Brother, you had a bad experience, and it shows, but it was your own experience, and not everyone had the same experiences as you.

You may find a group were you all have similar bad experiences, sit around lick each others wounds, and bash the group you came out from.

My Brother, there are bad people everywhere, in every group and religion.

Just don't become the thing you hate.

[navygoat1998]

Originally Posted by Evang.Benincasa

Yeah, because of the bitter ex-(place whatever denomination) people who for whatever reason came against (place whatever denomination).

My brother, see you in ten years, I pray that your ecclesiastical evolution doesn't turn round and bite you back. More pitiful, more merciful, Jesus said for our love for one another we will be known? Brother, every man's burden is the heaviest, because our own perception is our own reality. Your blanket statements are not truth, just like a bigot who says all black people are criminals, or all Sicilians have family members who are in the Mafia. While there may be some who fit those descriptions not all fit those descriptions.

Brother, you had a bad experience, and it shows, but it was your own experience, and not everyone had the same experiences as you.

You may find a group were you all have similar bad experiences, sit around lick each others wounds, and bash the group you came out from.

My Brother, there are bad people everywhere, in every group and religion.

Just don't become the thing you hate.

If I became what I hate I would become okra..........

[Monterrey]

Originally Posted by navygoat1998

If I became what I hate I would become okra..........

Bwahaha

Or liver and onions!

[houston]

Originally Posted by navygoat1998

If I became what I hate I would become okra..........

I don't hate anything. I'm holy.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by chigayle

Unfortunately, in an organization, the organization's manual is "the bible". Not, THE BIBLE. An organization is not worried about the man or the family. Only the organization. I grew up in the UPC and have seen so many of these same situations happen through the years to good good men. At the end of the day we are all "flesh". WORRY about the ones that have TB on the chopping block == you can bet there are skeletons they have.

REAL christians and especially REAL preachers will be like a doctor and flip into "rescue" mode. That is what the church is...a hospital for the wounded. But, the church and especially organizations loose that focus. Sad, but church politics reign supreme. The wounded ARE left to die.

Let us search out Jesus' heart. For REAL. Too much opinion, and not enough scriptural foundation.

When I asked a question what does Galatians 6:1 mean to you....answers were very carnal. One person said I am all for restoration IF.....there was no IF stated in Galatians 6:1. It was a directive....ye that are SPIRITUAL, restore. I guess that (SPIRITUAL) is the problem.

In all of the 70-odd pages of posts here, I don't believe anyone has said that there is not a place of forgiveness for the man in question who began the issue of this thread. I haven't heard anyone say he shouldn't be forgiven. There is forgiveness for sin at the feet of Jesus, with a humble heart.

And like Zaccheus, whom Jesus forgave, and then told to go out and begin restoration to those whom he had cheated, this man has a long road to follow to restore the things he cheated and destroyed. Yet, forgiveness is available ... always... But just because one is forgiven, and restoration is made, should not be a guarantee that the lost position is given back. That is up to the individuals who have been cheated, and lied to, to make that call. Not us, here on AFF for sure.

Jesus said we are to forgive our brother, seventy times seven, if he asks for forgiveness. Forgiveness is a given for all believers, if we want to be forgiven ourselves.

Forgiveness was granted to Zaccheus, yet, he told Zaccheus to also restore four-fold the things he had stolen. So... repentance, forgiveness, and restitution.... they go hand in hand.